The Phuket Hotels Association (PHA) will host its 2019 benefit gala (PHAB) on May 3 to raise funds for more than 10 fully-paid hospitality scholarships and traineeships for local residents.
The PHAB 003 James Bond-themed “Shaken Not Stirred” event will take place at the Latitude Marquee, Laguna Phuket from 19.00 until midnight.
Last year, the PHAB 2 gala dinner drew 350 guests and raised over four million baht (US$130,000) for the scholarship fund.
This year’s event is expected to welcome up to 400 guests with an evening of cocktails, dining and entertainment – including a silent auction showcasing prizes such as a luxury yacht cruise on the Born Free Yacht Cruises by Le Meridien Phuket as well as three-night stays in a number of Accor, Anantara, Hyatt, Dream Group and Marriott hotels worldwide. The association targets to raise five million baht in the live auction.
Proceeds from the event will be used to support the education in hospitality studies for young scholars and trainees from Phuket. The training will last from three to four years and cover vocational and degree courses, helping to pave the way for a new generation of hospitality managers, chefs and other key personnel for the island’s tourism sector.
The entertainment highlight will be live music by UK X Factor 2013’s Winner, Sam Bailey who is sponsored by David Hayes’s event management company, JAND Events. The supporting act for the evening is The Young Musicians Collective, a newly formed group of senior students from the Phuket Academy of Performing Arts, who will start off the night with their James Bond themed music. One of Phuket’s most in-demand DJ, Benjamin Jenkins (Ben Jay) will also take to the stage for floor filler sets.
The event is also supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Fundraiser tickets are priced at 4,500 baht for premium tickets, inclusive of food and selected free-flow, and at 5,500 baht for VIP tickets, which include food and free-flow as well as bubblies.
